Dream home renovation: how one family overhauled a five-storey house in London — while on a gap year in France

Moving out while your home is being renovated is a great way to avoid the mess and stress. But moving to the South of France while the builders are in? That’s the dream.

Art historian Claire Read, her husband Simon and their sons Finn, seven, and Magnus, six, took a sabbatical as a family.

Simon, a media consultant, says: “We realised this was a unique chance to have time together, before Finn started school, and we’d always fancied a year in Provence.”

Claire adds: “It made sense to find a project that could be completed while we were abroad.”

The project was a tired, five-storey Georgian terrace house in south-west London, which the couple planned to radically redesign and enlarge through a series of rear and side extensions, glazing and the addition of an extra floor in the basement.

Now it’s transformed, the basement has a family media room, utility room, loo, wine room and gym.

On the lower-ground floor, there is a large kitchen-diner. The ground floor has a reception room, study and loo, while the first floor contains the master bedroom, bathroom and dressing room.

Above are the two boys’ bedrooms, a guest bedroom, bathroom and laundry room. The top floor is a guest suite with kitchen, living space, bedroom, bathroom and roof terrace.

“It was a major endeavour — not for the faint-hearted,” says Simon. “They had to dig down six metres to create the basement. It was like an open-cast mine.”

While many homeowners prefer to pop in daily on a job of this scale, Claire and Simon relished the hands-off approach.

Being so far away from the site helped: “I think we could be more creative and adventurous as a result,” says Claire. “Being at a distance allows you perspective. You’re not freaking out when things run late or go wrong.”

In fact, compared to previous projects the pair had tackled, this was a breeze.

“We could fly back to Nice, get off the plane and it was all palm trees and sunshine.”

The family returned in September 2015 after a year away, with the house almost completed.

“We wanted to be here for the finishing stuff, such as choosing sockets and paint shades,” says Claire.

While living abroad, Simon would fly home regularly to check in with architect, Jo Cowen, and the building team.

To achieve the kind of open, flowing space the family craved, Jo recommended that the floors be levelled and to remove the returns and half-staircases typically found in properties of this age.

“In the end, it proved too complicated to keep the original joists,” says Simon. “The entire back of the house had to come down.”

Now, though, the house is Tardis-like — its contemporary interior a glorious surprise hiding behind a period façade.

“The levelling out made a massive difference to how it all looks,” says Simon. “There isn’t an old bit at the front and a new bit at the back. The house is a whole.”

It isn’t the architecture alone that helps six storeys function as one flowing home. It’s the décor, too.

“Finding the right flooring was key,” says Claire. “Once we decided on pale wood, the whole space came together.”

In addition, a monochrome palette forms the backdrop and a tactile mix of natural materials, including linen, sisal and marble, features throughout.

“I didn’t want a look that was complicated or distracting,” Claire says. “This was a way to bring a very vertical house together.”

While this recipe may seem Scandi in flavour, the couple have seasoned it with French finds, many carried back in their hand luggage. There’s a mix of contemporary and antique furniture and lots of art.

Yet behind the gorgeous look runs a stream of practicality. “It was important the house felt relaxed,” says Simon. “We have young kids. You can’t be agonising about muddy shoes.” Luckily, they don’t have to, as those gorgeous floorboards can be mopped.

Though, aren’t the white Paola Navone sofa and armchairs a practical nightmare? “They’re usually a no-no in a family with under-fives,” grins Simon, “but you can wash the covers and they don’t need ironing.”

The finished house meets their individual needs. “Claire has her yoga area, I have my wine room and the boys love racing their pedal cars around the kitchen,” says Simon

Its flowing layout and light, uncluttered vibe make it a haven from busy lives.

But can the family now all speak French? Simon laughs. “I don’t know if we speak better French but the village definitely speaks better English!”

You can take a look inside Claire and Simon’s home at Homes & Gardens House Tours 2019 event on Thursday and Friday October 10 and 11 in Fulham.

Tickets are limited so book now at homesandgardens.com/housetours2019

Originally featured in Livingetc magazine, October 2016